GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation

The General Data Protection Regulation will replace the Data Protection Act on 25th May 2018. We can accelerate your path to GDPR compliance and ensure your organisation is ready before the new regulation comes into effect. If you have not already started planning for this then we recommend you start doing so now.

As we have moved into the digital age, use and misuse of data has evolved and increased, exponentially. In 2018, GDPR will replace the Data Protection Act of 1998, bringing in legislation that tackles the modern threats to data.

What is GDPR and does it affect me?

If you collect, store or process personal data that can be identified with an individual – by name or other identifiers, then GDPR will affect you.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) seeks to create a data protection law framework across all organisations that manage, process and control data, and aims to give control of personal data back to the individual. The reform imposes strict rules on those hosting and processing this data, anywhere in the world.

What will I need to adhere to?

GDPR compliance will mean a legal requirement for you to:

Have a lawful purpose for collecting the data

Only collect the minimum data you require for that purpose, and hold it for no longer than is necessary

Process and store the data securely – whilst also ensuring that it is accurate and up-to-date

Ensure that you can provide the data subject with the data you hold upon receipt of a legitimate request

What if I fail to protect data under GDPR?

If you are found to be in breach of the Regulation then the fines are potentially catastrophic.

If personal data is lost or stolen then you must inform the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) within 72 hours of discovery. The ICO may then choose to investigate how the data loss or security breach has occurred, and whether or not you have been in compliance with GDPR.

What are the common causes for data loss and security breaches?

Rogue employees

Ransomeware attacks

Honest mistakes

Phishing emails

Technology failures

How can Microtrading help with my GDPR compliance?

We can help bring you up to speed before 25th May 2018, and put in place the practical and technological solutions that will keep your sensitive data safe, and fulfil your obligation to GDPR.

Microtrading offers a comprehensive range of data protection services that keep both the sensitive data you hold on individuals, as well as that of your own company and staff, safe.

Backup management – maintaining regular backups to mitigate the risk of data loss and get your business back up and running with minimal disruption following a failure, malware attack or other major outage

Data encryption – we can encrypt company data held on PCs, laptops, tablets or mobile phones, keeping it safe if these devices are lost or stolen

Digital rights management – restricting and managing access to sensitive data; this includes who can access it, where they can access it and what they can do with it

How do I find out more?

If you’re interested in knowing more about the GDPR, visit the ICO’s website. On here you will find lots of useful information about the regulation, how it will impact your organisation and the steps you need to take to be ready for next May.

Also, we can help you too. Using technology to discover, manage, protect and report on the sensitive information you hold can accelerate your path to compliance. Contact our team on 0121 784 0077 for advice and guidance on how we can help you to prepare.

Useful guide: GDPR

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